"Pass me somethin to take off the edge.""
I lay my head down on the almost empty bar top.
"What happened this time?" Nellie, an older girl who'd been working here for years and could handle herself much better than I.
"He was too violent." I said bluntly showing her my blackened eye.

Nellie shook her head, "I'm not gonna serve you the brandy. One because it's almost out and it's expensive, and two because you're not even sixteen yet."

I huffed and closed my eyes trying to bloke out the terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, I'm not yet old enough to drink but I could pay my way as a prostitute?

"I want to leave." I said finally.

"Oh yeah?!" Nellie almost laughed, "You and every girl here, I don't think anyone dreams of becoming a whore in some dingy bar in Brooklyn. It's just we all have to get by somehow."

I got up off of the stool, "I'm gonna go for a walk." I couldn't take breathing in the sour smell of sweat and liquor anymore.

"Be back soon, Joey'll see your out of bed and get upset again." Nellie warned.

I hated Joey Delancy; he was our pimp and a rather temperamental one at that. He'd taken me in off the street when I'd been thrown out last year. Ma and Dad couldn't afford to feed all five of us kids anymore. So they tossed the older ones out and sent the younger two to the orphanages, I haven't seen any of them since.

Outside was dark with a winter chill causing a shiver down my spine.

I began to walk down the street avoiding the cracks and potholes. How far could I get if I ran right now, this thought went around and around in my mind. The fact was I couldn't. I had a deal with Joey and no one ever broke a deal with him.

"Eya sweet heart." I felt a large hand fall on my shoulder.
I grimaced, a pair of dark creepy eyes stared down at me, as it's hand held me hard.
"Get lost." I whispered trying to break away. It was Oscar, one of Joey's younger brothers.
"Nah come on, you'll do what I say won't ya Rosie? We don't wanna tell Joey you's was misbehavin again do we?" He said laughing a drunken laugh.
I began to elbow him. "Let go of me! You've been drinkin again Oscar!" I felt my temper rising, trying to contradict my fears of what could happen if he won.

I watched as a couple of more boys came around me.

"Aye Oscar, this your slut from O'donnely's?" The other Delancey brother, Morris asked.

I felt a tear roll down my cheek and I tried to hide my face.

"Come on give me a kiss." Oscar laughed grabbing my too tightly around the waist making me scream.

"Stupid whore!" He suddenly became taken with anger throwing me on the ground.

"We gotta shut her up before the cops find her!" Morris yelled.
I tried to get up and run but someone began kicking me.
I cried out, still trying to climb to my feet.
Then my ribs began to give out, they felt shattered.
"We gotta go Oscar!"

"She ain't out yet!" Oscar growled kicking me harder in the chest.
I felt myself scream again, regretting it as soon as I did.

"She won't peach if she knows what's good for her!" Morris said hurrying Oscar.

"Someone's coming!"